On January 20, 1980 Mary McCarthy, never known to mince words in print or in person, was asked on Dick Cavett's PBS talk show whom she considered overrated writers. After a moment's thought, Lillian Hellman came to her mind.

Thinking and smoking. Smoking and thinking. Thinking, smoking, and pacing the floor of her apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side. This is how we see the gifted academic and profound socio-political philosopher, Hannah Arendt, prepare to write.

Happy Birthday, Betty Daniels! Elizabeth Daniels celebrated her 92nd birthday on May 8th, coincidentally "National Teachers Day," and has worked for Vassar College for 65 years, nearly half the existence of that 150-year-old institution.